Device and method of Interconnecting location and the time events

ABSTRACT

A method of interconnecting locations and time events, which includes the steps of (a) replaceably selecting a first image at a first memorial location and selectively setting a first reference time corresponding to the first image in responsive to a present time; (b) replaceably selecting a second image at a second memorial location and selectively setting a second reference time corresponding to second image in responsive to the present time; and (c) interconnecting the first image and the second image to interlink the first and second memorial locations with the first and second reference times for creating a location-time chain relationship as a reminder to remind the user to live in the moment.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a memorial device, and moreparticularly to a device and method of interconnecting location and timeevents by using a plurality of memorial modules interconnecting witheach other in a predetermined manner.

2. Description of Related Arts

Traditional methods and devices for refreshing one's memory about aparticular place at a particular time (such as a travel spot) areextremely limited. Very often, people may use their cameras to capturebeautiful scenes and develop a photo for those scenes. Those photos maybe displayed in a variety of methods by a variety of apparatus. Forexample, a particular photo may be displayed on a picture frame orstored as an electronic file in a computer. As a matter fact, there islittle, if not nothing at all, people may do in order for them torefresh their memory about a particular location or at a particulartime.

There are several disadvantages and discrepancies in associated withthese traditional methods and apparatus. First, whenever people displaythe photos by an apparatus (such as a photo frame), there is noindication as to when and where the photos were taken. Although somecameras may have the function of printing the date onto the photos, theprintings necessarily destroy or at least interfere with the originalimages because the date is always directly printed onto the image.Moreover, even though there is a date printed onto the photo, there isno indication of the exact time at which the photos were taken.

Second, traditional methods and apparatus for displaying photos go notprovide interconnection of different locations at different timeswhatsoever. For example, when one is willing to refresh his or hermemory regarding a series of interconnected events, the most he or shecan do is to display different photos with different picture frames.There is no interconnection between the pictures and the time at whichthe pictures were taken. Perhaps more accurately speaking, traditionalphoto frames do not assist their users to interconnect places and timesfrom many individual photos taken at different times and locations.

Moreover, traditional photo frames usually do not provide any mechanismor arrangement for physically interconnecting with each other so as toprovide a means for assisting users to spiritually or mentallyinterconnect different places and times together. Foe examples, each ofthe traditional photo frames do not possess any tangible interconnectionarrangement for physically incorporating with other photo frame in aview to assist users to interconnect different places at different timesin their mind.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A main object of the present invention is to provide a device and amethod of interconnecting location and time events in the mind of a userby using a plurality of memorial modules interconnecting with each otherin a predetermined manner. In other words, the present invention createsa location-time chain relationship for interrelating a memory of a useras a part of a day in the life of remembrance and for expectation of auser as a part of a day in the future, so as to form a reminder toremind the user to live in the moment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device and amethod of interconnecting location and time events in the mind of auser, where the user is capable of physically connecting each of thememorial modules in any manner preferable to the user. In other words,the present invention allows the user to pick the optimal manner inwhich location and time events are interconnected.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device and amethod of interconnecting location and time events in the mind of auser, which are not only able to identify and location and time of aparticular previous events, but are also able to interconnect suchlocation and times events through visual representations and in a manneroptimally chosen by the user. Moreover, more than two location and timeevents can be interconnected together in a predetermined manner andrepresentation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device and amethod of interconnecting location and time events in the mind of auser, which do not involve expensive and complicated mechanical orelectronic components so as to minimize the manufacturing cost of thepresent invention.

Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the presentinvention provides a device for interconnecting location and timeevents, comprising:

a plurality of memorial modules, wherein each of the memorial moduleshas an image portion and a time portion positioned at a same planer viewof the first image portion, wherein one of the memorial modules isarranged for replaceably displaying a first image of a first memoriallocation at the corresponding image portion and for selectively settinga first reference time corresponding to the first image in responsive toa present time, wherein another the memorial module is arranged forreplaceably displaying a second image of a second memorial location atthe corresponding image portion and for selectively setting a secondreference time corresponding to the second image in responsive to thepresent time; and

an interconnection arrangement interconnecting the memorial modules witheach other that interconnects the first image with the second image tointerlink the first and second memorial locations with the first andsecond reference times for creating a location-time chain relationshipas a reminder to remind the user to live in the moment.

Moreover, the present invention also provides a method ofinterconnecting location and time events through at least a first and asecond memorial module, comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying a first image of a first predetermined location onto afirst displaying window of the first memorial module;

(b) displaying a second image of a predetermined location onto a seconddisplaying window of the second memorial module;

(c) displaying a first predetermined time on the first memorial moduleby which the time of the first image is taken as a first reference timeof the first predetermined location is determined;

(d) displaying a second predetermined time on the second memorial moduleby which the time of the second image is taken as a second referencetime of the second predetermined location is determined; and

(e) interconnecting the first memorial module with the second memorialmodule in a predetermined orientation in such a manner that memorialmodules are adapted for interconnecting memory of a user in associationwith first and the second locations displayed by the first and thesecond displaying windows at the first and the second reference time.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description,the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device of interconnecting location andtime events according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the device of interconnecting locationand time events according to the above preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is method of interconnecting location and time events accordingto the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the device of interconnecting locationand time events according to the above preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 2 of the drawings, a device forinterconnecting location and time events according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention is illustrated, in which the devicecomprises a plurality of memorial modules 10, and an interconnectionarrangement 20.

Each of the memorial modules 10 has an image portion 11 and a timeportion 12 positioned at a same planer view of the image portion 11,wherein one of the memorial modules 10 is arranged for replaceablydisplaying a first image of a first memorial location at thecorresponding image portion and for selectively setting a firstreference time corresponding to the first image in responsive to apresent time, wherein another the memorial module 10 is arranged forreplaceably displaying a second image of a second memorial location atthe corresponding image portion and for selectively setting a secondreference time corresponding to the second image in responsive to thepresent time.

The interconnection arrangement 20 interconnects the memorial modules 10with each other that interconnects the first image with the second imageto interlink the first and second memorial locations with the first andsecond reference times for creating a location-time chain relationshipas a reminder to remind the user to live in the moment.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each ofthe memorial modules 10 comprises a display window 111 provided at theimage portion 11 for displaying one of the corresponding first andsecond images of the first and second memorial locations and a timesetter 121 provided at the time portion 12 for selectively setting oneof the first and second reference times.

Moreover, the first reference time set in the corresponding memorialmodule 10 is an ancient time to indicate an event of the first image ofthe first memorial location that happened in a certain point in time,wherein the first reference time keeps moving in responsive to thepresent time to indicate a time interval between the first referencetime and the present time.

The second reference time set in the corresponding memorial module 10 isan upcoming time to indicate an event of the second image of the secondmemorial location that have yet to occur, wherein the second referencetime keeps counting down in responsive to the present time to indicate atime remaining before the event occurs.

On the other hand, the interconnection arrangement 20 comprises aplurality of first and second connecting elements 21, 22 integrallyformed at each of the memorial modules 10, wherein the first connectingelement 21 of each of the memorial modules 10 is detachably connectedwith the second connecting element 22 of the adjacent memorial module 10to interconnect two of the memorial modules 10 through the correspondingfirst and the second memorial elements 21, 22 in a predetermined manner.

Each of the first connecting elements 21 comprises a protruding member211 integrally extended from a circumferential surface of acorresponding memorial module 10, whereas each of the second connectingelements 22 contains a receiving slot 221 sized and shaped to correspondwith the corresponding protruding member 211 of the first connectingelement 21, wherein the protruding member 211 is fittedly detachablyinsert into the receiving slot 221 for detachably interconnecting thetwo corresponding memorial modules 10.

The image portion 11 is provided within the circumferential surface ofthe corresponding memorial module 10 whereas the time portion 12 isprovided at the corresponding -protruding member 211.

Each of the memorial modules 10 is crafted and designed to have apredetermined cross section, such as a circular cross section shown inthe drawings, wherein the corresponding a displaying window is formed ona front side of the corresponding memorial module.

The image is preferably taken from a photo 70 capturing a location whichthe user visited. For example, the user may take a photo 70 of, say, theStatute of Liberty and attach it on the displaying window of one of thememorial module 10. It is worth mentioning that each of the memorialmodule 10 may have altogether two displaying windows formed on the frontand a rear side thereof respectively for simultaneously displaying twodifferent photos 70.

Each of the time setter 121 comprises an adjustable LCD time indicator1211 which is arranged to display a predetermined reference time fromwhich the time at which the photos or the memorial pattern was capturedcan be determined. For example, the predetermined reference time can bethe exact time at which the photo 70 was taken. Alternatively, thepredetermined reference time can be the time difference between thecurrent time and the exact time at which the photo 70 was taken. Hence,when the exact time at which the photo 70 was taken is Jan. 1, 2007, andthat the user observes the photo 70 on Jan. 1, 2008, the predeterminedreference time displaying by the LCD time indicator 121 is therefore 1year, or 365 days. Accordingly, the first reference time will keepmoving in responsive to the present time by days to indicate the timeinterval between the first reference time and the present time. In otherwords, the first reference time will be shown 366 days as the timeinterval on Jan. 2, 2008.

Accordingly, each of the timing setters 121 further comprises a timeformat adjustor 1212 provided on the corresponding memorial module 10for allowing the user to adjust the format of the time displaying on theLCD time indicator 1211. The user is able to freely select an optimalformat of time display as the predetermined reference time to determineor link the exact time at which the photo 70 (i.e. the memorial pattern)was taken. Moreover, the timing device further comprises a referencetime adjustor 1213 provided on the corresponding memorial module 10 forallowing the user to set the predetermined reference time in the timeformat chosen by the user through the time format adjustor 1212.

It is worth mentioning that the memorial modules can be interconnectedat a wide variety of manners so as to fit the user's preference, asshown in FIG. 2. For example, the memorial modules 10 can beinterconnected at a 90 degrees inclination through the interconnectingarrangement 20. Alternatively, the first and the second memorial modules10 can be interconnected at a 180 degrees inclination (i.e. planarorientation) so as to simultaneously display the first and the secondpredetermined patterns at the same orientation.

As illustrations, the device for interconnecting location and timeevents may be embodied to display a wide variety of memorial patterns,such as the past, present and future scenario of a particular object orperson. For example, a user of the present invention may put photos ofhis or her son where he was very young, a teenager, and when he becomesan adult. As another example, the user may out photos of his old house,present house, and his dream house (which has not purchased yet) so thathe may have motivation to earn more money for purchasing that dreamhouse, or so that he may have a interconnected or comparison memories ofwhere he lived in the past.

Referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings, a method of interconnectinglocation and time events through at least a first and a second memorialmodule 10 is illustrated, in which the method comprises the steps of:

(a) replaceably selecting a first image at a first memorial location andselectively setting a first reference time corresponding to the firstimage in responsive to a present time;

(b) replaceably selecting a second image at a second memorial locationand selectively setting a second reference time corresponding to secondimage in responsive to the present time; and

(c) interconnecting the first image and the second image to interlinkthe first and second memorial locations with the first and secondreference times for creating a location-time chain relationship as areminder to remind the user to live in the moment.

In step (a), the first reference time is an ancient time to indicate anevent of the first image of the first memorial location that happened ina certain point in time. Thus, the first reference time keeps moving inresponsive to the present time to indicate a time interval between thefirst reference time and the present time.

In step (b), the second reference time is an upcoming time to indicatean event of the second image of the second memorial location that haveyet to occur. Thus, in a particular embodiment of the present invention,the second reference time keeps counting down in responsive to thepresent time to indicate a time remaining before the event occurs. It isworth mentioning that the first and second images of the first andsecond memorial locations are two photographs intentionally selected bythe user.

Moreover, the first image of the first memorial location and the firstreference time are displayed in the first memorial module 10 while thesecond image of the second memorial location and the second referencetime are displayed in a second memorial module 20, wherein the first andsecond memorial modules 20 are physically and detachably interconnectedwith each other at a desired orientation.

To elaborate the above steps with more particularity, step (a) comprisesa step of attaching a first photo 70 of a predetermined location ontothe first displaying window 111 for displaying the first predeterminedpattern. Similarly, step (b) comprises a step of attaching a secondphoto 70 of a predetermined location onto the second displaying window111 for displaying the second predetermined pattern.

It is important to mention that the first and the second memorialmodules 10, 20 can be interconnected with each other in a wide varietyof manners. For example, the first and the second memorial modules 10can be interconnected at a 90 degrees inclination through aninterconnecting arrangement which comprises a plurality of first andsecond connecting elements 21, 22 formed on the memorial modules 10.

Alternatively, the first and the second memorial modules 10 can beinterconnected at a 180 degrees inclination (i.e. planar orientation) soas to simultaneously display the first and the second predeterminedpatterns at the same orientation.

Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings, the device is illustrated as acomputerized graphical implement for interconnecting location and timeevents. The device is a graphical software installed into the user'scomputer, wherein the user is able to input the first and second imagesof the first and second memorial locations and corresponding first andsecond reference times into the computer. Therefore, the presentinvention will automatically place the memorial locations and times atthe memorial modules 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, a cube-like graphical pattern is selected by theuser, wherein the cube-like graphical pattern provides six faces as sixmemorial modules 10. The image portion 11 and the time portion 12 ofeach of the memorial modules 10 are provided at each face of thegraphical pattern. In other words, six different memorial locations andreference times can be selectively provided on the faces of thecube-like graphical pattern respectively. Therefore, each of thememorial modules 10 displays one of the memorial patterns (i.e. thecorresponding photo 70) which correspond to either a past event, presentevent or a future event respectively. In addition, the user is able toselect the movement of the graphical pattern. For example, the cube-likegraphical pattern is selected to self-rotate to consequently show thesix memorial locations and corresponding reference times.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of thepresent invention as shown in the drawings and described above isexemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have beenfully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown anddescribed for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structuralprinciples of the present invention and is subject to change withoutdeparture from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes allmodifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the followingclaims.

1-25. (canceled)
 26. A method of interconnecting locations and timeevents, comprising the steps of: (a) replaceably selecting a first imageat a first memorial location and selectively setting a first referencetime corresponding to said first image in responsive to the presenttime, wherein said first reference time is an ancient time to indicatean event of said first image of said first memorial location thathappened in a certain point in time; (b) replaceably selecting a secondimage at a second memorial location and selectively setting a secondreference time corresponding to second image in responsive to thepresent time, wherein said second reference time is an upcoming time toindicate an event of said second image of said second memorial locationthat have yet to occur; and (c) interconnecting said first image andsaid second image to form a three- dimensional perception to interlinksaid first and second memorial locations with said first and secondreference times for creating a location-time chain relationship as areminder to remind the user to live in the moment.
 27. The method, asrecited in claim 26, wherein said first reference time keeps moving inresponsive to the present time to indicate a time interval between saidfirst reference time and the present time.
 28. The method, as recited inclaim 27, wherein said second reference time keeps counting down inresponsive to the present time to indicate a time remaining before saidevent occurs.
 29. The method, as recited in claim 26, wherein said firstand second images of said first and second memorial locations are twophotographs intentionally selected by the user.
 30. The method, asrecited in claim 27, wherein said first and second images of said firstand second memorial locations are two photographs intentionally selectedby the user.
 31. The method, as recited in claim 28, wherein said firstand second images of said first and second memorial locations are twophotographs intentionally selected by the user.
 32. The method, asrecited in claim 26, wherein said first image of said first memoriallocation and said first reference time are displayed in a first memorialmodule while said second image of said second memorial location and saidsecond reference time are displayed in a second memorial module, whereinsaid first and second memorial modules are physically and detachablyinterconnected with each other at a desired orientation.
 33. The method,as recited in claim 28, wherein said first image of said first memoriallocation and said first reference time are displayed in a first memorialmodule while said second image of said second memorial location and saidsecond reference time are displayed in a second memorial module, whereinsaid first and second memorial modules are physically and detachablyinterconnected with each other at a desired orientation.
 34. The method,as recited in claim 31, wherein said first image of said first memoriallocation and said first reference time are displayed in a first memorialmodule while said second image of said second memorial location and saidsecond reference time are displayed in a second memorial module, whereinsaid first and second memorial modules are physically and detachablyinterconnected with each other at a desired orientation.
 35. A devicefor interconnecting location and time events, comprising: a plurality ofmemorial modules, wherein each of said memorial modules has an imageportion and a time portion positioned at a same planer view of saidfirst image portion, wherein one of said memorial modules is arrangedfor replaceably displaying a first image of a first memorial location atsaid corresponding image portion and for selectively setting a firstreference time corresponding to said first image in responsive to apresent time, wherein another said memorial module is arranged forreplaceably displaying a second image of a second memorial location atsaid corresponding image portion and for selectively setting a secondreference time corresponding to said second image in responsive to thepresent time, wherein said first reference time set in saidcorresponding memorial module is an ancient time to indicate an event ofsaid first image of said first memorial location that happened in acertain point in time, wherein said first reference time keeps moving inresponsive to the present time to indicate a time interval between saidfirst reference time and the present time, wherein said second referencetime set in said corresponding memorial module is an upcoming time toindicate an event of said second image of said second memorial locationthat have yet to occur, wherein said second reference time keepscounting down in responsive to the present time to indicate a timeremaining before said event occurs; and an interconnection arrangementinterconnecting said memorial modules with each other to form athree-dimensional structure that interconnects said first image withsaid second image to interlink said first and second memorial locationswith said first and second reference times for creating a location-timechain relationship as a reminder to remind the user to live in themoment.
 36. The device, as recited in claim 35, wherein each of saidmemorial modules comprises a display window provided at said imageportion for displaying one of said corresponding first and second imagesof said first and second memorial locations and a time setter providedat said time portion for selectively setting one of said first andsecond reference times.
 37. The device, as recited in claim 35, whereinsaid interconnection arrangement comprises a plurality of first andsecond connecting elements integrally formed at each of said memorialmodules, wherein said first connecting element of each of said memorialmodules is detachably connected with said second connecting element ofsaid adjacent memorial module to interconnect two of said memorialmodules through said corresponding first and said second memorialelements in a predetermined manner.
 38. The device, as recited in claim36, wherein said interconnection arrangement comprises a plurality offirst and second connecting elements integrally formed at each of saidmemorial modules, wherein said first connecting element of each of saidmemorial modules is detachably connected with said second connectingelement of said adjacent memorial module to interconnect two of saidmemorial modules through said corresponding first and said secondmemorial elements in a predetermined manner.
 39. The device, as recitedin claim 37, wherein each of said first connecting elements comprises aprotruding member integrally extended from a circumferential surface ofsaid corresponding memorial module, whereas each of said secondconnecting elements contains a receiving slot sized and shaped tocorrespond with said corresponding protruding member of said firstconnecting element, wherein said protruding member is fittedlydetachably insert into said receiving slot for detachablyinterconnecting said two corresponding memorial modules.
 40. The device,as recited in claim 38, wherein each of said first connecting elementscomprises a protruding member integrally extended from a circumferentialsurface of said corresponding memorial module, whereas each of saidsecond connecting elements contains a receiving slot sized and shaped tocorrespond with said corresponding protruding member of said firstconnecting element, wherein said protruding member is fittedlydetachably insert into said receiving slot for detachablyinterconnecting said two corresponding memorial modules.
 41. The device,as recited in claim 39, wherein said image portion is provided withinsaid circumferential surface of said corresponding memorial modulewhereas said time portion is provided at said protruding member.
 42. Thedevice, as recited in claim 40, wherein said image portion is providedwithin said circumferential surface of said corresponding memorialmodule whereas said time portion is provided at said protruding member.